CNR

Decolonisation

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“In memory of our fallen INLA volunteers, upper Springfield area: Hugh Ferguson, Ronnie Bunting, Noel Little, Hugh O’Neill, Micky Kearney, John McColgan, Paddy “Paddybo” Campbell. Comrades: Barry “Baz” McMullan, Sean “Shanto” fleming, Harry O’Hara, Paul Collins, Bernado Brownlee, Emmanuel Kelly, Michael Conlon, Billy Lynch, James “Harpo” Murray, John Kennaway. Saoırse go deo [freedom forever].” Ferguson was the first member of the INLA to die, in 1975 in the feud with the OIRA. Bunting and Little/Lyttle (both Protestants) were shot dead in 1980 in Bunting’s Andersonstown home by masked gunmen from the UDA or SAS with RUC complicity.

Whiterock Road, Belfast, next to the Kevin Lynch – Marian Price – Kevin Lynch wall.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06154 X06153 whiterock road

Belfast Taxis Community Interest Company

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Serving the community for over fifty years.” BTCIC is the current name for what was previously the West Belfast Taxi Association. Black taxis have been running up and down the Falls since 1970, providing an alternative form of transportation to local people during the Troubles when buses were cancelled or, as in this picture, burnt out and used as barricades. They now, in addition, provide tours of the murals (such as the Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street) and Belfast city. Taxi Trax has a web site but here provides a phone number for those already at the International Wall, where there has been a black taxi mural since 2003. There are other WBTA murals in Beechmount and Ardoyne. The painters have signed the mural: Doherty’s Coal Merchant and Lyons Tea.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06160 X06159 burning bus

Ireland Stands With Palestine

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Republican political party Saoradh (tw | Fb) ignores the hospital stencil and pastes up a poster expressing solidarity with Palestine.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06167 Broadway

Marrowbone Company, Belfast Brigade

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Marrowbone (or simply “the Bone”, perhaps from the Irish “Machaıre Bothán”) is an area of north Belfast between Ardoyne and Cliftonville. Ardilea Close is home to four memorials to local republicans: on this wall, the plaque on the left is to “men and women from this and past generations who died from natural causes having dedicated their lives to the cause of Irish freedom” while the one on the right is to “those who showed courage in the face of adversity by giving aid, shelter and support in defence of the area.” Only one of the original walls mentioned the IRA (see Bone Memorial), as well as the 2014 addition of a Fıanna memorial – Hark To The Tramp Of The Young Guards of Éıreann. The new mural commemorating F company of the 3rd battalion – as well as the associated Cumann Na mBan, Cumann Na gCaılíní and Fıanna – can be added to these.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06109

#AchtAnoıs

Extramural Activity2 Comments

An Dream Dearg (Fb) takes its campaign for an Irish-Language Act (Acht Na Gaeılge) to the streets of Ardoyne after a deal to introduce such an act collapsed in February (BBC-NI | Irish Times).

Balholm Drive; there is an identical mural on the International Wall on Divis Street.

Previously: An Dream Dearg | An Lá Dearg

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06062 X06061 balholm st

Door Into The Dark

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“This wall is dedicated to all those ex prisoners that found themselves imprisoned as a result of British occupation of our country. The plaques on the wall are in memory of those former POW’s who have since passed away.” There are five plaques already on the wall, to Patrick Quinn 2017, Buller Holland 2007, Henry McErlean 2015, Martin Meehan 2007, Seán McCaughey 1946.

For the large stones, see Father Time. Replaces Rhythm Of Time.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06069 X06075 [X06071] [X06072] X06068

Father Time

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Ardoyne republican Sean Colligan was interned during the troubles and spent his life as an activist in the area, particularly in organising the Ardyne Fleadh (via Saoirse32) and the murals in Ardoyne. He died of a heart attack (in 2004?) but his stone carvings survive him. Two were already in front of the Mass Rock mural, and three more have been added in front of a new commemorative wall for former POWs (to be featured tomorrow).

Colligan was among those thanked for their help on the Malcolm X mural.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06073 X06070 X06074 ardoyne ave

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Northern Ireland last night beat Israel 3-nil in a soccer “friendly” at Windsor Park. Gael Force Art took to Sliabh Dubh (Black Mountain) to support Palestinians and the BDS Movement, saying there’s “nothing friendly” about Israel’s human rights record (the full GFA statement is here).  Other protests – and counter-protests – took place elsewhere in the city (BelTel).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06150 X06149 X06148 X06399 #BDS free palestine

Ruling By Fooling

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The line “Yes, ruling by fooling, is a great British art – with great Irish fools to practice on” comes from a piece by a James Connolly article in The Irish Worker in 1914. It is used here in the context of what the “Good Friday [Agreement] has delivered: the copper fastened partition through the consent principle & triple locking border poll provision; gerrymandering using peace walls for population control; 70% Protestant, 100% unionist police force; internment by remand; revoking of licences; and miscarriages of justice; sectarianism; total polarisation of mindset; 18 peace walls in 1998 59 peace walls in 2018; sectarian allocation of social housing; almost 500 lives lost to suicide.” In contrast, 32CSM declares that the Declaration Of Independence (in English | as Gaeilge | it was also translated into French) by the Dáil in 1919 is “the only mandate the Irish people need”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06127 X06128

The Proclamation

Extramural Activity2 Comments

Robert Ballagh’s 1916 Proclamation was first painted as a mural by Mo Chara Kelly and Rısteard Ó Mhurchú in 1991 for the 75th anniversary of the Easter Rising (see Cáısc 1916 which also contains the Ballagh piece). That version stood for ten years on the Whiterock Road. It has reproduced again in Ard An Lao above the hunger strikers, after the removal of several plaques (see All Our Dead). “With special thanks to Hugo Óg Wilkinson”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06110 our revenge will be let there be no bitterness